Sash balance



Aug. 8,` 1950 D? J. DINSMQRE sass BALANCE 2' Sheats-Sheet 1 Illrr);

. Jinsnwre,

Filed Feb. 24. 1948v D. J. DINsMoRE 2,517,851

SASH BALANCE Aug. 8, 1950 Filed Feb. 24, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5J/57 l1? gf 1% .sa 222 i 54 /28/9554/28 r 4;0 76 7.9 19 i; 59 3'5" 27 7 v 53 Si 79 54; i S ,z5 `7 (f A 2/ 77 77 34 77 23 l). eID nsnwre;

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Patented Aug. 8, 1950l UNITED STTES PATENT OFFICE 2,517,851 sAsH BALANCE Dawson J. Dinsmore, Sioux Falls, S. Dak.

Application February 24, 1948, Serial No. 10,425

(C1. Iii-198) 2.l Claims.

This invention relates to sash balances of spring type and more particularly to those of the kind that are placed overhead and located on the lintel or head jamb of the framing of a window opening instead of the side jambthereof, so as to thus permit simplification and the making more compact of the upright. side portions of the framing and without necessitating any material change in the size or a departure from the form and arrangement of the lintel or head jamb.

An object of the invention is to produce a spring type of balance which is usable for both the upper and the lower sashes of Windows, is simplified and made Lcomparatively sma1l and compact in size, yet highly efficient and effective in use, is manufactured at a minimum cost and can accordingly be marketed and sold at a low price, and is easily installed for use.

Generally stated, the invention consists primarily in a comparatively short yet appreciably elongated and relatively narrow, rigid body m'ember which is of a denite though minimum 1en'gth and mountable horizontally and supportedly on thelintel or head jamb of a Window frame, said body member resting throughout the greater extent thereof on the lintel or head jamb and being there fastened at its inner end only and having its outer end portion extended so as to overhang or project into the vertical runway provided in the side jamb of the Window frame so as to receive the Window sash slidably fitted therein. This body member, which is preferably of anopen-topped channel form throughout its length, contains Va peculiarly formed and operated, longitudinally movable, spring-retracted,carriage having a retainer portion working in slidably engageable relation to the spring element whereby the carriage is retained in the body, there being a flexible sash-supporting element such'asr a strong cord or Wire which is attached to thev carriage in opposition, to the spring element and is'looped and relooped several times compoundedly about a series of rollers journalled on the carriage and an opposed series of rollers jour` nalled in xed position on the body member so that a maximum outplay of the liexible cord or wire element between the sash and the set vof rollers on the balance body causes only a slight travel of thecarriage and stretching of thespring element. p

An illustrative but non-limiting embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figurel is a lfragmentary top plan View of a Window frame in which a pair of sash-balances areshown as placed on the lintel or head jamb of and section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of' Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end view of the upper portion of a window frame showing a pair of sash-balances placed thereon as in Figure l, one for the upper and one for the lower sash;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on or about the line 4-4 of Figure 1 through the' channelled body member, the carriage and the pairs of spring elements;

Figure 5 is a cross-section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 through the channelled body member adjacent the set of stationarily located rollers forr the fiexiblefcard or Wire; and

yFigure 6 is a perspective View of the carriage element detached.

Referringv now to the 'drawings in detail, the numeraly I0 designates," asa Whole, a Window frame having a lintel'or head jamb II at the top thereof, on which is placed a pair of sashbalances, each designated'g'enerally by the numeral I2, there being one forthe upper sash I3 and lone 4for the lower sash I4. The upper sash I3 has its side edges fitted slidably in the usual vertical channel or runway I5 provided in the side jambs of the Window frame I0, and the lower sash I4 is likewise iitted in similar channels or runways I6 in the framing.

The vvindovv frame and sash constructions, in themselves not a fpart of the present invention, may bey of any ordinray or approved form and arrangement. Hence, the same are not shown in fully detail but only suiiiciently to illustrate a practical application of the present invention thereto. i v

The invention resides principally in the novel construction and arrangement ofthe balance itself and the particular way in which it is mounted its topy throughout its length and at its opposite ends, and Wheninstalled for use it is placed so as to rest atwise on top ofthe horizontal lintel or head -jamb `II -of thev window `frame or upon a specially cut or otherwise provided seat portion formedl in said frame part.v In any case, this body member is set and supported horizontally its side Wall I9, near the forward end thereof, Overhead in working position. So, too, its outer with a series of three rollers 2l. These rollers, end portion 26 is projected so as to enter or overwhich, as shown, are concave or grooved periphhang the upper part of the vertical runway in erally, are journalled in fixed position between a the side jamb of the window frame in which the 5 short, supplemental, longitudinal partition plate upper or the lower sash, as the case may be, is 28 and the adjacent portion of the side Wall IS.

slidably fitted. This plate 28 may be an integral wall extension In use, there may be provided only one of the of the bottom l? of the body I2, or, if it is in the balances of the present invention ,for ,each,sash, ormiof a sep2-Tate rectangular plalf and iS made in some cases, or two balances (one at eachisided to rest at its bottom edge solidly on'the bottom 0f the sash) in other cases, depending upon the I7 and the spindles on which the rollers 2'! rotate weight of the sash itself and the sustaining. arev rmly riveted in the plate 28 and the Wall strength of the spring element provided in the 9,`th11 ample rigidity is aiorded the mounting balance. However, for the average snialleroandofifltheg/rollers 2li to withstand strains imposed lighter weight sashes, only one of ,the balances l5 th'reOniby the pulled cord or wire 22 which is will be ordinarily used, but, for larger and heavier looped and relooped around said rollers and a sashes two balances may be necessarily usedgione;k similarrset .ofirollers 30 that are J'Ournalled 011 a at each Sido of the sash, carriage 3i to be now described in detail.

It is here noted that in cases where only one Thalage, designated generally by the 1111- balance is used for each'sash, particularly when 2o meTP/J 3i, COIHDTSSS a mall'bOdy plate 32 0f a defthere is anupper and a lower sashiin'the Same inite `rlengthiwhich issoonsiderably.shorter than windowfvframe, a .pair of the. :balanoegemayrbo the balancebody rnemberli;Y At its forward end placed side by side on the lintel or headfjambthisiplateZais provided with a pair of upper ands; andat one Aside .of the frame, or, fdesired, the lower 'hookszfB-'pz punched 1 andV struck from-thebalance. for the. opper Sashimay boplacedlaoone 251, plater and 1to which :the forward endsiof a .parallel f' side of the frame and that for the lowerivsashu pair;ofzheliealvspringsflrare attached, asatfia.

at theopposite Sideof the frame, Said:springs::extendy rearwardly and .are .housed i Obviously, .the balance ofthe preseminvontion between-fthewall y#Bibi the; balance :body l2: and` i can-be. used for sustaininglsashe's inthe conven- S3161 Ca'lfagezplatel. i

tional style of Windowframohavingits Side jambs k30oY The reanendsfof thesprings 3dr are fastenedlask r, prepared; for.. accommodation, ofthe regular at 36, to hook members 31 provided on the anija-.,- weighted sash. cord hanging. ofthe Sash,l HOW-.. oentinnen'face portionfofjthe wall i8 fof the balever,:if designed especially for use of the-balance o alebody 5L' AS=Sh0WIL .these Springs XGIlCl-f of the present.; invention, Simpuoation and f. iniparallelggslightly,spaced apart; relation to'eachs compactness ofside jamb Structure of the Window 35,; other andzat all times are'fstretched to someeX-ifA frame islipossime because '5h-@Chamber @f .spaceo tenitrandfiunder te'nson.A l-IenceyA they afford-an"f foraccommodationof\Sash oord-,Woights can bof, eiectve:guidingxprovisionffor'- a vlateral luge y:011;- eliminated andthe .-sideljambprovid'ed with .only Hangerfforrmaftion;,33,l atltherearfgend, ofl saidnplateai, theyru-nway orfrunwaysf.forotheoslidfingsashor member 32 0f theiclfiageilf sashes. .1 With the IateraLlugoOLange: f38zfof: the, car- The forward ond portionofhe botto-m |g of riapre-'3k` projected betweennthe "parallel pair, yofi: the-,elongated channelled body'lZ ofthe balancef UPDBI"and-flowerzspringsr:34:-if twoxof the,springsaeI which 'enters or overhangstho verticalrunway l5, l areplovided as slfloyvrlgiforV under a singleispring if?? or l5 @fthe side jamzhfofthe LWindowframe, is such 'bafprovided in theasamelocationiasztherupe:.- providedfvwithanopening 2 if. (see Figures 1 and-2) per fonelfofftheipair-` shown,:.said upper; Spring. 012s' whichymayxfbe ofvv any :desirabler form', but,as n thofsin'glospfngfasthoioo'somafy beif"se'ves"tof`f showmisa circular aperture Throughthis ,open preventsundue .lifting of thezcarriage If fromfthe s ingr 2L a flexible cord -or-wire .22 is passed-down bottom n' of .theichanneued'bodymemberf'? Oflf wardly: from .a:springfinlu'enced:winding -and the'fbalame; Yet'thefarriagewis freely:movable,;5 take-up mea-ns .on the .body g2 5o-beA4 present1y;0 l0naludillally:,closeto saidifbottom` ll` ofthebodyf; described more fully. in detail. saidcord -or wire d l member?" 50511200;thespringelements Mare free; 22 beine attached at its end to the upper or lower f foistrotoh and; commotion 'therooff Sashdla, or, has the Gasen may, ber The: attach It is-here-notedthat spring elementll, in eitherff mentiofthe Cord or Wire 22. to thev Sash maybe single-or dual number as provided, is obviously of abita',detaohabh asin'di i, 'o ,Y fr 1905.110111. oaW -1C 1 .lsmove --upprf own lan .a

apemuredacupl23,2130 Teleavsably *engage* Securely' lblefth.,rilngtotftlefsashdwith s llkigl11t-effortorg.

(lug/egg' l:1i-ook element 24 provided on the sash (mmtheashnsafelynandl'Without selpdroppmgfmovow o men th y 1 tt I v Y o S ,1 rollers3ll.similar= tothe .before described rollers .l e a er against the llntel or head Jamb I I, said, 21,'jjournalled,ther eon, oneend of each. Spindle 39- bOdY '2 Tesmg fnflly and supportedythfough." for,sai1.1, .roll'ers x 31being rivetedfirrnly in the outfthe rnaior portion- -of its-length ontheilntel osvfmainnplajgegzjof tnocarriage andfopposite ends;l 01' head' lamb Thlsmakes fOr-'Stabilityand 'dez ofthe Aspindles39v being vlikewise secured in a short pendabill-ty of A-supporir'for wthe balance, but, 'to" Supplemental ,plateML' assure pos1t1ve `vfplacemeni.- of the balance, it Iis Alliot the-rollers, 277. 'and ,3llr'naybe of the Samew held -t`rorrl1 lengthWlSe aS Wellilas'upward Klifting sizalout, preferablm.thosenofmeach set, either sta',-M andtlltmg movement byprpvding an apertured 70-tionari1y mounted on the forward portion ofthe extension- 25f ofthe botto1n--l T'off the: body |2= vat body member I2v or,.on the rearportion of thecaixltsinner'endend-fasteningthesame as bya Screw' riage4 3 I; jare insequentiaHy v dilerent l,sizes ,grad-fi 26 orotherwise -to -the-litelor head jarnb I I; y uatin-'g from largest diameter of the outermost one. As: shown (for clarity Vseel Figuresv 1 and 2 in 4of each ,set to smallest diameter ,of the innermost particular) the channeledbody -I2is-provided on *75 one of each set."l This lis to" facilitate looping and 4 I, tothe bottoml Il of the channelled bodlr memdiameterprovisionof therollers'Zl andv 30, the" looped and relooped portions'o'f the cord or wire aremovable about 'the "ro1lers"21' and 30 -without interference of one looping with' the otherslf "Ihe compound looping Aandreloopingofthe cordlorwire-22 `is illustrated -in Figuresl and 2. Asshow'n, the cord rwire'fstarting from the end that'is fastened, as ait/4I tothe-bottom |"I'of the channelled body-` member I 2 'is vcarried rearward under and up over'thesm'allest roller 3|) on the carriage 3|, thence'orward'over'the smallest stationary roller 21-on'tl'iei'bdyimember and down under the samejf It-isi then'fcarried rearward under and' around th'emiddle'l'arger roller 3|I`,`thence again forwardly,- over anddownunder the middle stationary `roller 121;"wh'nce fit f is again carried rearward, under and upove'rlthef largest and 'outermost carriage roller "3B-#fand then forwardly and down over the outerfrnot and.Y largest stationary roller, fronr whichI lattrthe'cord or wire 22 is carrieddownwardand attached, as .at-:23, 24, to the sash I3 or I4, as the case may be With'this particular loopin-gandrelooping. ,of the cord or wire 22, and one' of its ends attached, as at 4| to the body member I2, withlfit'sopposite end atcase may be, downward movement of the-sash pulls the cord'orwire-22,-therebyrdrawing the carrage forwardly and stretching the spring element orl elements 34 in either a single or multiple provision thereof, whereas, if the sash is lifted, the spring element or elements as the case may be react to pull the carriage rearwardly and thus the cord or wire 22 between the sash place of attachment and the inner end which is attached to the body member I2 is kept taut constantly.

It is clearly evident that with the provision of the compound looping and relooping of the present invention, the cord or wire 22 can be extended a considerable distance as the sash moves downwardly yet the carriage 3| travels at the same time a distance forwardly only a small fraction of the downward travel of the sash. So, too, it is apparent that while the stretch of the spring element 34 is comparatively slight, like the travel of the carriage 3|, the spring is always taut under tension and comparatively stili transversely thereof between its ends. Hence, with the lateral lug or flange 38 of the carriage 3| projected under the spring 34, as hereinbefore described, the carriage is held close to the face of the bottom I1 of the channelled body I2 yet it is free to move easily forward under pull of the sash cord or wire 22 and rearwardly under reaction of the spring element. This is an important and advantageous feature of the present invention. i

While the 'shown number of three rollers 21 3D in the twoI sets as provided in the construction and arrangement illustrated in the drawings is ideal for use with the average size of window sash and length of extension travel required of the sash-cord or Wire and in keeping the length of the body member I2 within the desired practical dimension for the purpose intended, it is obvious that the number of rollers may be increased or decreased in some adaptations of the invention.

A particular advantage in the construction and arrangement of the balance of the present invention, -in .addition to the utilitarian features hereinbefore pointed out, is inthe particular way in which the ends of the spring elements' 34 are respectively detachably fastened to therearpor tion of the wall I8 of the body member I2 and to the-forward portion of the carriage plate 32.,4

A further advantage is that the spring elements 34 lare yhoused and well protected between .the f wall |8of thebody member I2 and the plate 32' of the carriage 3| as shown. A still further adi-'1 vantageds that all of the cooperative working f parts ofthe balanceare `contained and protected as a complete unit within thel channeled body member I2. f'. n Obviously, structural changes are `possible,

within the, spirit of the inventionas defined in the appended claims. Therefore, the invention isv not limited to the specific constructionandarl- 1 rangement vshown inthe accompanying drawings.v y vIn this specification the cord or wire 22must" beof flexible material and therefore in thehclaimsf` will bevreferred to as a vflexible connector.

VWhat is claimed is:

rollers journaled, as 1a distinct set, stationarily on the forward portion `thereof ,"and lat least one v rollerof the set being positioned in alignment with the sash-runway, a carriage mounted rearwardly of said set of rollers, longitudinally movable within said body member and having a similar set of rollers journalled thereon in opposed cooperative relation to said first-mentioned set, the roller of each set of rollers being of different diameters, the one of greatest diameter being adjacent the forward end of the body member and positioned over the sash-runway of the window frame, the rollers of the same set decreasing in diameter rearwardly, the set of rollers carried on the carriage being reversely graduated in diameter, with the one of least diameter foremost and that of greatest diameter rearmost, spring means placed under constant tension on the body member to normally urge the carriage in a rearward direction and away from said first-mentioned set of rollers, and a flexible connector attached to a sash fitted slidably in the window frame, said flexible connector being extended from the sash upwardly, thence supportedly over the roller of the stationary set which is positioned within the sash-runway of the frame, whence it is looped and re-looped compoundedly back and forth in succession on about the stationary set of rollers on the body member and the set journaled on said carriage and finally fastened at its inner end to the body member, whereby, a forced lowering of the sash causes a pull on the flexible connector and a travel of the latter from the supporting roller of the stationary first-mentioned set a distance correspondingly equal to the travel of the sash, and, due to the compound loopings of the flexible connector between the stationary set of rollers and the set on the said carriage, causes a fractional distance movement of the carriage forwardly on the body member, with a corresponding stretching of the spring means, and upon a lifting of l. An overhead spring-influenced sash balance, the same comprising a horizontal `body member, elongated and. relatively narrow but of a definitely minimized length and installed for -use sup-j portedly lengthwise on theylintel orxheadjamb of a window' frame, .with its forward y'endpcrtion v projected` to overhang inthe :upper part ofthe i vertical sash-runway formed in the side jamb of the' franfejsaid vbody member having .a series of theiasimzthensprjng: reacts to move thee.

cam-mae;firearmfa-rvdl-y-.f.v v 2;QAn overhead. springfinuenoed-sashfbalance,

the:asame?001119Kisingiia.dflorizontalzbocly member,

elongated'fanderelativelyqnarrow but offga denniteiya fmnimizedfqflengtn f .and @installed for use suppontedly; lengthwiseon @the lnte-l Orp-head amb ofrafnvndomaframe,with its .forward end-portion projected tomverhang-@inethe upper. ,partl of 'the venti-calasasnerunway formed in the side. jamb, of

theoframe, fsaidbody member havingaa series; of rqllerssjqurnalled, fases. `.distinct set, statOnarily.

ona'the forwardAportion .,thereof,and at least one roller of the set being positioned in alignment Y with:theesashfrunwama carriage `riountecl rearwardlyosaid set of,.ro11ers,..said carriagehaving a projentonzin Athefoltrnoa flangez extending laterallygwad, carriage being longitudinally moveN abl'ewitin said body member and having a simin lar-,set of rollers journalled Athereon in-opposed coo perative4v relationdzo 'saidK rfirst-mentioned set,

the-rollei'bfv eaclrset'iofl rollersbeingL of different diameters; *the one of-greatest-diameterbeing-ad jacent the forward end of the"`-bc dy`fmemberA and positioned'over the sash-runway of thevwindow framea-the rollersv of the same set decreasingv in diameter"rearWarditheset of'rollers carried von;

the; carriage .'being: reversely; graduated in dia'meter; fwith the'one of Qleastdiameter: foremostv and thatsoigrea-test'f diameter rearmost; spring means comprising; :a plurality' of4 parallel-spaced apart he'licalasprings placed-,underconstant tension on the body'vfmember :toanormally rurge thecarriage' inl :a fire arward :direction and-K away from said.

rsLi-mentionedfrset ofnrollers., said spring; means body member, E,vx/hereby, a iorceddowerngzof rthe sashnoausesra pull on thaex-ibieonneotor.anda L traveleof ,theeIatter-i-IQm the supporting rollers of l thestationaryM rstfmentioned seta distance' oorrespondi'nglyequal 4toy the travel of .thesash; end,; due to the" compound loopings-of 'the'exiblem connector? .betweentheistationary set of frollers k and .theI .set on fthe-said-.carrage, `fcauses -a- ,-fracp.' A

.tional` distance rmovementa of ithe carriage for-` wardlfymn; thef.- body,- memben (with a correspondi' ingstretehing @I2 theyspring meanspand-fuponfa lifting ,of the-sash; the springfmeans reactsto more` a the oarrfiage.'rearwandly\.;` v

, y DAWSQNnT. DINSMORE.;

y REFERENCSKCITEDV@ filefl'offf-tliis patenbf-f 

